Budget Travel Trends in 2007

What initially appears to be bad news has its roots in a nice development: budget airlines are thriving in many places, especially Europe and North America. But the lower fares stretch the bottom line, and many budget carriers have begun to look for ways to offset price competition from the majors and soaring fuel costs. Throughout 2007, announcements came from airline media offices about new fee policies. It pays to be light on your feet. Beyond the basic comforts and costs, mobility is one of the most valuable tools a budget traveler can employ. By the way, these new fees for bulky or heavy bags are not exclusive to budget carriers. Major airlines are employing them, too.

In the early days of the Internet, budget travelers would go to a hotel Web site or a search engine, shop for prices, and make a decision. The Internet was a conduit for information. But the so-called "new World Wide Web" or "Web 2.0" makes passive information gatherers into participants. Travelers are taking pictures in budget hotels and posting them with hotel reviews. They're blogging about their best travel experiences and travel tips for specific destinations. As never before, budget travelers have access to find and distribute money-saving information. A travel-related business that ignores this trend does so at its own peril.

Less than a decade ago, savvy budget travelers were seeking out air courier assignments. Companies needing overseas deliveries would employ a courier company that in turn would offer to heavily subsidize the trip in exchange for use of the traveler's baggage allotment. The theory--very valid at the time--was that passenger baggage made it through customs much more quickly than many cargo shipments. Much has changed in recent years. Cargo companies have spent billions to make their fleets more efficient. Discount airfares are now more common, too. So the budget traveler flying from, say, New York to London has a number of options for finding an inexpensive flight. Air courier assignments are still on the list, but for how much longer?

In 2007, exchange rates were among the hottest topics at About Budget Travel. U.S. travelers commented they are postponing trips overseas until the situation improves. European travelers flew to east coast cities like Philadelphia and New York to do holiday shopping at favorable rates of exchange. No matter your currency of choice, there are certain principles that work in the favor of your budget. These will continue to change, but they are also likely to remain important budget strategies in the months to come.

Jackson Square in New Orleans is a beautiful place. It's steeped in history, charm, and the smell of freshly brewed Cajun coffee. Just a few miles away, neighborhoods struggle to recover from Hurricane Katrina, which occurred in 2005. Visitors are shocked to see such slow movement and stunning need. Many find ways to combine their touring with some service to the community. It's not limited to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Travel agents report a surge in interest for such trips worldwide.